South African Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The incident occurred in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on last Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting the South African on the head.

After Murphy complained to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the television match official, who found insufficient clear footage.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was found to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"A player must not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the contact reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

However, the player's ban was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior during the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion team during the recent tournament.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to play against the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.